New Line Television has inked a deal with cabler Speedvision to develop a weekly syndie series about auto racing and other motor sports for fall 1999.
As a precursor to the weekly series, the partners have produced two hourlong syndie specs about NASCAR racing that are set to air this summer. The specs, both titled “Speedvision: NASCAR at 50 with Richard Petty,” have been cleared on TV stations covering 90% of U.S. TV households, including WABC New York, KCAL Los Angeles and WMAQ Chicago.
Specs and series will be produced by Speedvision Prods., drawing on the cabler’s extensive library of racing footage. Speedvision, partly owned by the Fox/Liberty Sports partnership, has a subscriber base of about 14.5 million. Speedvision execs say they’re hoping the Speedvision-branded syndie showcase will boost the channel’s profile, particularly among racing buffs.
Deal was unveiled Wednesday by New Line TV exec VP Chris Russo and Speedvision CEO Roger Werner.
